story   of    the    Argus   [.  R^'^k  JsU^i  li>-] 


fit 
.J. 


UNIVERSITY  OF 

ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 

ILL.  HIST.  SURVEY 


i 


371.7339 
aRG2a 


Ike  STORY  of  THE  ARGUS 


"PREFACE 


^^^^  HE  STORY  of  The  Argus  is  one  of  success  in  the 
£  '^  newspaper  field  for  a  reason  which  binds  it  for- 
^-^  ever  close  to  the  interests  of  the  people  of  its 
territory — and  that  reason  is  its  unfailing  service  to  the 
community  at  the  sacrifice  of  all  else.  If  it  were  not  for 
this  ideal,  The  Argus  would  long  ago  have  joined  the 
ranks  of  those  Rock  Island  newspapers  which  for  one 
reason  or  another  have  passed  into  oblivion  while  The 
Argus   continued   on   its   straight  course. 

Keeping*  faith  with  its  growing  community,  guided  not 
always  by  the  majority  but  always  by  what  it  believed 
to  be  right  and  ethical  in  the  handling  of  its  news  and  the 
conduct  of  its  business,  The  Argus  has  enjoyed  prosperity. 

It  has  ever  been  abreast  of  the  times.  Changes  for  the 
better,  in  policy,  in  equipment  and  in  methods  of  man- 
agement, have  always  been  adopted  by  those  who  hap- 
pened to  be  in  control  when  new  theories  along  these  lines 
came  to  their  attention.  The  Argus  was  among  the  first 
newspapers  in  the  middle  west  to  drop  the  practice  of 
what  was  known  as  "  personal  journalism,"  when  printing 
the  news  unalloyed  by  personal  observations,  and  con- 
fining what  was  printed  in  the  news  columns  to  facts, 
became  recognized  as  the  ideal  of  the  newsnaper  business. 

Where  before  the  editor  had  eliminated  all  matter,  whether 
it  was  live  news  or  not,  which  for  any  reason  might  be 
construed  as  favorable  to  political  or  other  enemies  of 
the  naper,  or  harmful  to  its  friends,  the  present  policy 
of  "  All  the  News  All  the  Time  "  was  adopted.  In  adopt- 
ing" it  the  management  recognized  in  full  its  obligation 
to  its  subscribers,  that  they  were  entitled  to  receive  com- 
plete information  on  every  matter  of  public  interest. 

That  this  course  has  won  the  public's  favor  is  evident  in 
the  physical  g-rowth  of  this  institution.  As  a  result  of 
its  prosperity,  and  because  of  its  conviction  that  the 
pursuance  of  its  ideals  will  bring  even  greater  achieve- 
ments with  the  advancing  years.  The  Argus  has  erected  a 
new  home  to  house  its  plant,  allowing  for  considerable 
growth,  and  in  which  to  serve  the  public  in  greater 
measure  than  ever  before.  This  booklet  contains  the 
story  of  The  Argus  from  its  earliest  chapters  down  to 
the  present  busy  episode. 


/ 


PhotograpJi  of  bronze  tablet  of  the  late  John  W.  Potter  in  bas-reiief  ivhich 
occapieH  a  panel  on  north  wall  of  business  office  in  new  Argus  building 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


http://www.archive.org/details/storyofrockislanOOaled 


Seventy-fire  Years 
in  Business  in  Rock  Island 


A  Small 
Beginning 


IN  1851  a  rear  room  in  the  Whittaker 
&  Evans  building,  located  just  east  of 
the  most  recent  Argus  plant  on  Second  ave- 
nue, was  converted  into  a  crude  printing 
shop,  and  therein  was  issued,  on  Oct.  18,  the 
first  edition  of  the  paper  which  was  to  be- 
come eventually  The  Argus.  The  room  was 
on  the  second  floor  and  did  not  communicate 
directly  with  the  street,  but  there  was  no 
rush  about  getting  copies  down  on  the  street 
or  into  the  mail  without  a  moment's  delay, 
as  has  since  become  the  case. 


Second-hand 
Equipment 


J.  B.  Danforth,  Jr. 
Buys  Interest 


The  Rock  Island  Republican,  as  it  was  called, 
was  issued  weekly.  Its  proprietors  were 
Fred  S.  Nichols  and  John  W.  Dunham.  Their 
machinery  and  other  apparatus  had  been  pur- 
chased in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  second  hand.  Both 
men  had  formerly  been  employed  on  the  St. 
Louis  Intelligencer  and  had  considerable  ex- 
perience in  newspaper  work. 

Dunham,  being  a  southerner,  while  his  part- 
ner was  a  northerner,  became  tired  of  the 
undertaking  after  six  weeks,  and  sold  his 
share  in  it  to  Nichols,  returning  south.  Until 
1852  Nichols  continued  in  sole  charge  of  the 
enterprise,  and  in  November  of  that  year  he 
sold  a  half  interest  to  J.  B.  Danforth,  Jr., 
v;ho  was  destined  to  continue  on  the  publica- 
tion's staff  from  1852  to  1869. 


Nichols  sold  out  to  Danforth  in  the  spring 

of  1853,  and  during  the  next  three  years 

the  latter  continued  in  sole  charge.  This  brief 

[7] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


poriod  was  an  eventful  one  for  the  growing 
publication.  It  saw  the  removal  of  the  plant 
into  new  quarters,  saw  the  paper  become  a 
daily  and  witnessed  the  changing  of  its  name 
and  another  partial  change  in  ownership. 


Eventful   Years: 
Location    and    Name 
Changed;  Becomes 
a   Daily 


During  these  three  years,  in  1854  to  be  exact, 
the  Buford  block,  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
Second  avenue  and  Seventeenth  street,  east, 
was  completed.  In  this,  the  first  four-story 
structure  in  Rock  Island,  The  Republican  at 
once  took  up  quarters,  which  it  retained  17 
years.  On  July  13,  1854,  the  first  daily  was 
issued.  At  that  time  there  was  no  other 
daily  nearer  than  Dubuque,  la. 


Present  Name, 
"The  Argus,'* 
in  Use  70  Years 


Shurley  Buys 
Share  in   1856; 
Many   Changes 


The  present  name.  The  Argus,  was  adopted 
in  1855  in  conformance  wath  a  change  in  the 
country's  political  nomenclature.  It  had  been 
given  the  name  of  the  Republican  as  merely 
an  expression  of  its  endorsement  of  the  re- 
publican type  of  government,  for  the  Repub- 
lican party  had  not  yet  been  formed  as  a 
political  entity  and  the  term  was  still  used 
only  in  its  governmental  sense.  In  1855, 
however,  a  group  whose  political  beliefs  were 
opposed  to  those  championed  by  the  publish- 
er of  The  Republican  had  organized  a  party 
under  the  name  of  the  Republican  party.  Lest 
there  should  be  a  misunderstanding  in  the 
public  mind  as  to  the  principles  for  which  the 
publication  stood,  its  name  was  changed,  in 
1855,  to  The  Argus.  That  has  continued  to 
be  its  title  for  the  last  70  years. 

At  the  end  of  this  eventful  three-year  era, 
Mr.  Danforth,  in  1856,  sold  a  share  in  The 
Argus  ownership  to  Robert  V.  Shurley.  The 
next  25  years  saw  frequent  changes  in  man- 
agement, a  condition  which,  in  those  davs  of 


[9] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


newspaper  governance 
by  personal  political  be- 
liefs and  the  holding  of 
radically  opposed  politi- 
cal creeds,  was  not  a 
healthful  one.  Many  al- 
terations in  policy,  and, 
indeed,  in  the  form  of 
the  paper  itself  brought 
on  apace  the  inevitable 
failure.  The  eclipse, 
however,  was  destined 
to  be  only  temporary. 

First  of  the  changes  dur- 
ing this  era  was  the  pur- 
chase, on  Sept.  16,  1857, 
by  Pershing  &  Connelly, 
the  latter  Major  H.  C. 
Connelly,  of  the  interests 
not  owned  bv  Mr.  Shur- 
Tube  and  phone  central  station  j^y^  Pershing  &  Connelly 

were  then  publishers  of  the  Rock  Islander, 
and  the  two  publications  w^ere  combined  as 
the  Rock  Islander  and  Argus. 


The  Argus  " 
Again  Used, 
Issued  Tri-weekly 


A  week  after  this  transaction  Mr.  Shurley 
sold  out  to  Milton  Jones,  who  held  an  edi- 
torial position  on  the  paper  until  1881.  On 
Sept.  16,  1859,  J.  B.  Danforth  again  obtained 
an  interest,  buying  out  Pershing  &  Connelly, 
and  the  paper  once  more  became  The  Argus. 
In  the  meantime,  on  July  18,  1859,  the  daily 
had  been  suspended  and  a  tri-weekly  was 
begun.  The  daily,  however,  was  resumed 
Sept.  1,  1861. 


Danforth  Sells 
ie   McNeal 


Robert  F.  McNeal  bought  out  the  Danforth 
holdings  in  1869,  and  in  turn  parted  with 
them  to  J.  S.  Drake  on  Jan.  1,  1870.    Three 

[10] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


years  later  The  Argus  company  was  formed 
and  incorporated  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$32,000. 


In   Its    First 

Exclusive 

Quarters 


The  paper  went  into  its  first  exclusive  quar- 
ters in  1871,  when  the  Buford  heirs  erected 
The  Argus  block  next  to  the  alley  on  the 
east  side  of  East  Seventeenth  street.  Ten 
years  later,  Richardson  &  Powers  acquired 
a  controlling  interest  in  the  company  and 
for  a  brief  year  they  waged  a  struggle 
against  adversity.  At  the  end  of  that  time, 
however,  in  1881,  financial  reverses  neces- 
sitated a  suspension  of  the  paper.  This 
would  have  been  the  end  of  The  Argus  under 
all  ordinary  circumstances. 


Potter    Takes    Over 
Control;    New 
Lease  of   Life 


Stereotyping  department  ^'"" 


There  was  a  different  fate  in  store  for  it, 
though,  and  its  new  lease  of  life  began  with 
the  advent  of  J.  W.  Potter,  publisher  of  the 
Freeport  Bulletin,  into  its  affairs.  He  bought 
the  wrecked  newspaper,  and  sent  his  son, 
the  late  J.  W.  Potter,  Jr., 
here  to  manage  it.  The  first 
issue  under  the  new  man- 
agement came  out  Aug.  2, 
1882.  In  May,  1885,  the  eld- 
-^.  n>  er  Mr.  Potter  died,  and  the 
son  became  the  sole  owner. 


Little  but  the  name  was  left 
to  The  Argus  when  Mr.  Pot- 
ter took  charge  of  the  publi- 
cation, and  the  task  of  plac- 
ing it  on  a  paying  basis  was 
one  which  required  a  great 
amount  of  persistent  effort 
and  of  journalistic  ability. 
The  old  quarters  on  East 
Seventeenth  street  were  out- 

[11] 


UBR'^W^ 


\LUN01S 


rSiK= 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


grown  in  1888,  and  the  building  on  Second 
avenue,  most  recently  occupied,  was  pur- 
Art  Outg 'own  cliased  by  Mr.  Potter  and  remodeled,  to  be- 
come the  paper's  home.  The  removal  took 
place  during  June  of  that  year. 

During  six  years  of  The  Daily  Argus'  his- 
tory it  was  a  morning  paper.    The  first  Daily 
Six  Years  as  Argus  was  issued  as  an  evening  paper  on 

Mmnmg  july  ^3   1^54.    It  was  changed  to  a  morning 

paper  on  Dec.  17,  1855,  and  published  as 
such  until  Nov.  18,  1861.  From  that  date 
until  the  present  time  it  has  been  an  evening 
publication. 

After  Mr.  Potter's  death  in  1898,  the  J,  W. 
Potter  company  was  organized,  and  the  pa- 
per has  since  been  published  under  that  cor- 

Da%  Union,  porate  name,  with  Mr.  Potter's  widow,  Mrs. 

Long  Time  Rival  J.  W.  Potter,  as  president  of  the  company. 

Prior  to  the  erection  of  its  new  home,  the 
last  principal  passage  in  the  story  of  The 
Argus  was  its  absorption  of  the  Rock  Island 
Daily  Union,  in  1920.  The  Union  was  found- 
ed in  1862,  and  at  the  time  of  its  purchase  by 
The  Argus  was  published  by  the  Union 
Printing  company.  It  was  an  evening  daily, 
and  the  leading  features  of  its  service  were 
incorporated  into  The  Argus. 


[12] 


The  Argus'  New  Home 


Healthy    Growth 
Makes   Old  Plant 
Obsiolete 


W 


HEN  THE  Second  avenue  building 
which  The  Argus  has  just  vacated 
was  first  purchased  and  occupied,  in  1888, 
its  size  was  ample  for  the  needs  of  the 
newspaper  plant.  Spacious  and  comfortable 
quarters,  they  seemed  at  that  time,  and  so 
they  were  for  nearly  two  decades.  But  as 
time  went  on  and  the  staff  and  equipment 
expanded,  the  building  became  less  adequate. 
Even  the  acquisition  of  the  store  room  ad- 
joining the  business  office  on  the  east,  and 
its  conversion  into  work  space,  five  years 
ago,  only  temporarily  relieved  the  situation. 


Begin  Making 
Provisions  for 
Removal 


Plans  were  already  under  way,  however,  for 
the  erection  of  a  modern  publication  plant 
for  The  Argus.  Its  publishers  had  realized 
for  several  years  that  the  old  building  had 
outlived  its  usefulness  as  far  as  The  Argus 
was  concerned,  and  were  arranging  their  af- 
fairs to  provide  for  the  eventual  necessary 
removal  to  a  new  headquarters. 


Building 
Crowded   Past 
Capacity 


The  year  1924  saw  cramped  conditions  exist- 
ing in  the  old  building.  The  newsroom  was 
crowded  to  the  last  inch  of  work  space.  The 
press  was  working  beyond  its  capacity.  In 
the  composing  room  there  was  a  similar  con- 
dition, a  crying  need  for  more  equipment, 
and  yet  no  place  to  put  it.  It  was  time  to 
replace  the  makeshift  arrangements  which 
resulted  with  a  plant  of  an  adequate  and 
permanent  nature.  Therefore  the  long  con- 
sidered plans  were  made  to  materialize. 


An  ideal  site  for  the  new  building  was  found 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  intersection 

[13] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


of  Eighteenth  street  and 
Fourth  avenue.  Easily  ac- 
cessible to  all  office  build- 
ings, business  houses,  banks 
and  municipal  and  county 
buildings,  a  block  from  the 
principal!  business  dis]trict 
but  in  the  only  direction  in 
which  that  district  can  ex- 
pand, the  location  which  was 
chosen  will  undoubtedly  be 
increasingly  strategic.  Cer- 
vin  &  Horn,  Rock  Island 
architects,  w  ere  commis- 
sioned to  design  the  struc- 
ture. They  were  instructed 
to  make  it  such  a  building 
as  the  organization  and  the  community  could 
view  with  continuous  pride.  Among  other 
things  they  were  instructed  to  make  the 
structure  roomy  enough  to  provide  for  at 
least  100  per  cent  expansion  of  all  depart- 
ments. Both  of  these  admonitions,  the  pub- 
lishers of  The  Argus  feel,  have  been  capably 
carried  out. 


Business  office  public  space 


Ample  Room 

for  Future  Growth 


Erect    Thor«iiph]y 
Modern  Plant   at 
Cost    of    $300,000 


The  new  home  of  The  Argus  is  as  modern  in 
all  particulars  as  is  any  newspaper  plant  in 
the  country.  The  total  cost,  inclusive  of 
new  equipment,  is  $300,000.  It  is  appointed 
and  arranged  with  but  one  purpose  in  view 
— to  better  in  every  possible  way  its  service 
to  its  readers,  through  promoting  efficiency 
by  providing  modern  equipment  and  arrang- 
ing it  conveniently.  The  distinctive  features 
of  the  plant  were  not  evolved  in  a  single 
week,  a  month  or  a  year,  but  over  a  course 
of  years  of  thought  and  investigation  on 
the  part  of  the  companj^'s  executives.  Dur- 
ing the  last  three  years  they  have  made  fre- 
[14] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


quent  trips  of  inspection  to  the  newer  news- 
paper plants  far  and  near,  obtaining  ideas 
for  the  building.  Plans  already  made  were 
shaped  to  conform  with  their  findings,  until 
it  is  now  believed  that  all  of  the  more  com- 
mon faults  found  in  this  type  of  building 
have  been  eliminated  and  that  every  portion 
of  The  Argus  plant  is  100  per  cent  service- 
able. 


Worked  to 
Make  Edifice 
Most  Serviceable 


Construction 
Is  Fireproof 
Throughout 


The  neiv  home 


Its  location  gives  the  building  both  north 
and  east  exposures  for  the  main  facade. 
Consisting  of  two  stories  and  a  basement, 
with  a  mezzanine  floor  around  the  business 
office  and  the  press  room,  the  construction 
up  to  the  second  floor  level  is  of  reinforced 
concrete  and  the  second  floor  is  built  of 
structural  steel.  Thus,  the  entire  structure 
is  fireproof. 

^  Its  style   is  Italian  renais- 

sance, and  the  material  of 
the  exterior  is  select  buff 
limestone  from  the  famous 
Indiana  quarries.  The  gen- 
eral character'  of  the  ex- 
terior would  be  described 
as  a  series  of  seven  arches 
flanked  by  larger  masses 
of  masonry  on  the  east  ele- 
vation and  one  large  arch 
on  the  first  story  of  the 
north  elevation.  The  alley 
and  court  side  is  faced  with 
a  vitreous  buff  colored 
brick.  The  interior  court, 
which  will  be  entirely  filled 
when  the  next  extension  is 
made,  is  faced  with  com- 
mon brick.  All  sash  is  steel. 
The  main  entrance  doors 
[15] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


Exterior  Is 
One  of  Beauty; 
Limestone    Finish 


Details    Simple 


and  frame  are  iron  and  glass.  All  hardware  is 
bronze.  Pockets  were  left  in  the  sidewalks  ad- 
jacent to  the  building  at  intervals  and  ivy 
plcints  are  being  trained  to  grow  over  the 
walls.  Additional  landscaping  has  been  effect- 
ed on  the  Eighteenth  street  side  by  a  row  of 
Lombardy  poplar  trees,  each  surrounded  by  a 
barberry  hedge.  Simple  cut  stone  carving 
of  motifs  relating  to  the  Greek  mythology 
from  which  The  Argus  received  its  name  has 
been  introduced  in  the  walls  adjacent  to  the 
entrances.  Two  flag  poles,  one  for  the 
American  flag  and  the  other  for  weather 
flags,  surmount  the  facade,  where  there  will 
also  be  placed  a  large  electric  sign  bearing 
the  one  word,  Argus.  The  second  story  has 
rectangular  openings  of  pleasing  size  and 
proportions.  The  beautiful  effect  is  obtained 
by  the  perfection  in  the  proportions  of  the 
masses  and  openings,  as  the  detail  has  all 
been  kept  very  simple  and  refined. 


A  Rock  Island 
Building  in  All 
Particulars 


Rock  Island  architects  designed  the  build- 
ing and  Rock  Island  contractors,  the  Henry 
W.  Horst  company,  erected  it,  the  sub-con- 
tracts being  let  to  Rock  Island  concerns 
wherever  possible.  All  materials  which 
could  be  obtained  in  Rock  Island  or  through 
Rock  Island  firms  were  so  purchased.  It  is 
a  Rock  Island  building  through  and  through. 


Built  on  Rock 
Stratum  Underlying 
Entire   City 


As  the  name  of  the  city  indicates  there  is  a 
stratum  of  rock  which  appears  from  twelve 
to  fourteen  feet  under  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  and  all  structural  portions  of  the 
building  and  the  foundation  rest  on  it. 

Owing  to  the  proximity  of  the  great  Missis- 
sippi river  with  its  large  volume  of  water, 
special  precautions  were  necessary  to  assure 
[16] 


THESTORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


waterproofing  of  the  basement.  Not  content 
with  providing  only  one  means  of  guarding 
against  the  danger  of  water  seeping  into  the 
building,  The  Argus  has  incorporated  three 
distinct  and  separate  methods  to  supplement 
each  other. 


Extra    Care 
Taken    With 

Waterproofing 


Valves  and 
Electric  Pump, 
Flood  Safeguard 


The  entire  lot  was  equipped  with  a  system 
of  porus  drain  tile,  all  of  which  terminated 
in  a  sump  four  feet  in  diameter  and  eight 
feet  deep  located  under  the  boiler  room. 
Valves  were  located  on  the  ends  of  these 
drain  tiles  so  that  at  seasons  when  the  water 
is  low  these  valves  are  closed,  and  at  times 
of  high  water  the  valves  are  opened.  The 
sump  fills  with  water  from  these  drain  tiles 
and  this  water  in  turn  is  discharged  from 
the  sump  into  the  sewer  by  means  of  an 
automatic  electric  pump. 


The  reinforced  concrete,  of  which  the  walls 
and  floors  are  composed,  was  made  inte- 
grally waterproof  by  the  addition  of  10  per 
cent  hydrated  lime,  which  securely  fills  the 
pores  in  the  concrete. 


Pitch   Membrane 
Under  Concrete 
Floor 


A  waterproofing  membrane  was  placed  un- 
der the  floor  on  the  outside  of  all  basement 
walls.  This  consisted  of  two  layers  of  fabric 
with  separate  coats  of  pitch,  very  similar  to  a 
heavy  "  composition  "  roof  properly  caulked. 
In  order  to  get  the  floor  thoroughly  water- 
proofed, a  thin  slab  of  concrete  was  first 
poured  over  the  entire  basement  area. 
L'lpon  this  was  laid  this  waterproof  mem- 
brane, then  the  final  floor  slab  was  set  on 
top. 


Inasmuch  as  the  bulletin  board  is  the  most 

important  feature  on  the  exterior  of  a  news- 

[17] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


rm 


± 
^ 
y 


Corner  of 
7ie2vs  room 


Bulletin    Board 
in  Prominent 
Location 


paper  plant,  it  was  given  the 
most  prominent  position  by 
cutting  the  corner  of  this 
building  at  an  angle  of  45 
degrees  and  placing  the  bul- 
letin board  directly  above 
the  corner  entrance.  This 
location  enables  the  paper 
to  accommodate  a  great 
crowd  of  spectators  on  the 
sidewalks  and  streets,  as  it 
is  at  the  intersection  of  two 
streets.  The  experience  in 
the  old  building  was  that 
where  the  bulletin  board  is 
located  in  the  middle  of  the 
block  the  street  is  not  deep 
enough  to  take  care  of  the 
crowds  present.  By  placing  the  bulletin 
board  on  the  corner  there  is  no  obstruction 
of  private  business  houses  which  would  oth- 
erwise be  located  across  the  street. 


Most  Modern 
Facilities  for 
Bulletining 


The  bulletin  board  is  set  behind  a  large  sheet 
of  plate  glass  and  all  operations  such  as 
keeping  the  score  boards  and  operating  the 
animated  football  or  baseball  game  boards 
will  be  accomplished  from  behind  in  the  bul- 
letin board  pit.  This  pit  is  directly  above 
the  vestibule  over  the  main  entrance  and  be- 
low the  news  room,  and  is  reached  by  stair- 
way from  the  news  room.  The, rear. wall  oq 
the  bulletin  board  room  has  a  large  opening, 
which  will  enable  The  Argus  to  place  a  pro- 
jection machine  on  the  mezzanine  floor  and 
project  bulletins  such  as  election  returns  on 
a  transparent  screen  located  directly  behind 
the  plate  glass  of  the  bulletin  board.  The 
location  and  special  details  of  this  bulletin 
board  system  are  an  innovation  in  the  news- 
[18] 


THE     S  r  O  R  Y     OF     THE     ARGUS 


Marble  Counter 
Feature  of 
Business  Office 


paper  industry  and  sets  a  high  standard  for 
providing  the  public  with  information.  The 
bulletins  will  be  lighted  at  night  by  a  row  of 
electric  lamps  located  in  the  cornice  which 
overhangs  the  board. 


Beautiful    Floor 
of  Stone  and  Slate. 
Plaster    Ceiling 


The  business  office  occupies  the  north  half 
of  the  first  story.  The  main  entrance  is  on 
the  corner  and  a  minor  entrance  near  the 
west  side.  One  passes  through  the  iron  en- 
trance doors  and  a  vestibule  into  the  public 
space  of  the  business  office.  The  public 
space  is  separated  from  the  work  space  by 
a  long  curving  counter  with  a  beautiful  verd- 
antique  marble  top  and  base,  and  a  madre- 
veined  Alabama  marble  die. 


?»?/),s'r  of 


The  floor  of  the  public  space  is  most  unusual, 
consisting  of  beautifully  variegated  shapes 
and  colors  of  stone  and  slate.  Stone  and 
slate  floors  have  become  very  popular  for 
high  grade  buildings  in  the 
last  few  years,  as  they  are 
beautiful,  more  easily  kept 
clean  than  is  tile,  and  very 
lasting.  One  of  the  shades 
used  in  this  floor,  particu- 
larly noted,  is  called  the 
mettowee  stone  and  comes 
in  variegated  tones  of  red. 


The  ceiling  is  of  ornamen- 
tal plaster  of  exquisite 
shape  and  proportion,  with 
ornamental  plaster  details 
of  rare  charm  and  beauty, 
being  deeply  coffered  and 
conforming  in  general  con- 
tour and  outline  with  the 
architectural  quality  of  th*^ 


COW.p<>i<l)ifj   )•(>(}))) 


[19] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


Stair   Colors 
Harmonize   With 
Slate  Office  Floor 


room.  The  work  space  back  of  the  counter 
is  covered  with  linoleum.  The  walls  of  this 
entire  room  are  built  with  a  Caenstone  finish 
and  a  verd-antique  marble  base.  The  mez- 
zanine floor,  which  is  located  on  the  west  and 
south,  has  a  balustrade  of  slender  wrought 
iion  bars.  The  main  stair  leading  to  the 
mezzanine  and  from  there  to  the  news  room 
on  the  second  story  is  made  up  of  reinforced 
concrete  with  terrazzo  treads  and  risers.  In 
the  terrazzo  on  the  stairs  were  introduced 
various  colors  of  dark  marble  to  harmonize 
pleasingly  with  the  variegated  shades  of  the 
slate  floor  of  the  business  office.  The  balus- 
trade is  made  up  of  twisted  wrought  iron 
rods  with  a  wood  handrail. 


Private    Offices 
Adjoin 
Business   Space 


The  private  office  of  the  treasurer  is  located 
on  the  first  floor  adjacent  to  the  business 
office  on  the  Eighteenth  street  side.  It  is 
in  close  contact  with  all  business  operations 
and  readily  accessible  to  the  pubhc.  It  is  a 
beautiful  room  of  excellent  proportions,  hav- 
ing a  wainscot  of  genuine  walnut  panelling 
with  a  lozenge  pattern  worked  into  the  fin- 
ish. Walls  and  ceilings  are  decorated  attrac- 
tively. 


Are  Finished 
in   Walnut 
and  Glass 


The  business  manager's  office  is  also  located 
within  the  business  space  and  adjacent  to 
the  circulation  manager's  office.  The  walls 
are  composed  of  walnut  and  glass,  giving 
complete  supervision  of  operations  of  the 
business  office  and  placing  the  business  man- 
ager not  only  in  touch  with  the  business  of- 
fice but  the  circulation,  mailing  and  press 
rooms. 


At  the  foot  of  the  stair  and  adjacent  to  the 
reporter's  entrance  near  the  west  wall  is  lo- 

[20] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


cated  a  vital  part  of  the  newspaper  plant. 

Jiere  are  the  terminals  of  the  telephone  sys- 

,^       .     ,  tern,     inter-phone     system     and     pneumatic 

Phonc!   rerminal  ,  11.  1  -       , 

a  Vital  Part  of  tubes,  placed  m  such  a  convenient  position 

News  Plant  that  the  Operator  in  charge  can  also  give  out 

information,  as  she  is  in  constant  communi- 
cation with  all  departments  of  the  plant  and 
is  located  at  a  point  where  she  can  observe 
everybody  going  in  or  going  out  of  the  busi- 
ness portion  of  the  building.  The  public 
space  will  be  served  by  two  private  telephone 
booths. 

In  addition  to  the  main  stairway  leading  to 
Mezzanine  Linked  the  mezzanine  and  second  story  a  service 
With  First  Floor         stairway    connects    the    business    office    di- 

hy   Two   Staircases  ,,  -ji     .i  •  ^    •         /• 

rectlv  with  the  composing  room.  Going  irom 
the  business  office  up  the  main  stair  one 
reaches  the  mezzanine  floor  where  is  located 
the  women's  rest  room,  a  charming  apart- 
ment having  windows  overlooking  the  busi- 
ness office  and  being  completely  equipped 
for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  the  wom- 
en patrons  and  employes.  At  the  other  end 
of  the  mezzanine  floor  is  located  the  men's 
wash  room.  All  wash  rooms  and  toilet  rooms 
in  the  business  office  have  terrazzo  floors 
and  marble  wainscots.  The  balance  of  the 
mezzanine  floor  is  available  for  future  work 
space.  The  floors  are  of  terrazzo  and  com- 
position. 

Continuing  up  the  main  stair  to  the  second 
News  Room  story,  which  contains  the  editorial  rooms  of 

Located  on  f\^Q  building,  one  enters  first  the  reception 

Second    Floor  ,  .    ,  ..         .,  ,        ,, 

room  w^hich  opens  directly  onto  the  news 
room,  editor's  office,  consultation  room  and 
managing  editor's  office.  The  reception  room 
has  sand  finished  plaster  walls,  terrazzo  floor 
and  arched  openings  leading  to  the  private 

[21] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


3nN3AV   uxunoi 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


offices.  Directly  across  one  entire  side  is  a 
beautiful  walnut  counter  with  a  linoleum  top, 
at  which  information  is  obtained  regarding* 
any  portion  of  the  editorial  department. 


Daylight 
Lavishly 
Supplied 


The  news  room  occupies  more  than  half  of 
the  front  portion  of  the  building.  It  is  light- 
ed by  numerous  windows  both  on  the  east 


and  on  the  north,  as 
the  center. 


well  as  a  skylight  in 


The  editor's  office  and  consultation  room, 
adjacent,  are  located  on  the  north  side.  The 
editor's  office  has  a  walnut  wainscot  with 
built-in  bookcase  and  all  cabinet  trim  with 
a  sand  finish  plaster  walls  and  modestly  or- 
namented ceiling. 


Library  a 
Pleasing    Feature 


The  managing  editor's  office  is  on  the  other 
side  of  the  reception  room  and  reached  by 
a  small  private  passageway.  Adjacent  to 
this  room  is  the  library,  lighted  by  skylight, 
and  accessible  from  all  portions  of  the  editor- 
ial department.  There  are  ample  wardrobes, 
two  long  distance  telephone  booths  and  a 
specially  equipped  and  sound-insulated  tele- 
graph room  located  between  the  news  room 
and  the  composing  room. 


Composing  Room 
Has  "Saw  Teeth 
Skylights 


The  Argus  composing  room  occupies  most  of 
the  space  back  of  the  editorial  rooms.  It  is 
lighted  from  two  sides  and  from  a  series  of 
saw  teeth  skylights  located  in  such  a  way 
that  the  light  from  the  skylight  is  entirely 
from  the  north,  to  do  away  with  the  annoy- 
ance of  sunlight  and  to  insure  a  steady  flow 
of  light  at  all  times.  Saw  teeth  skylights 
for  composing  rooms  are  considered  the  very 
best  equipment  and  are  used  by  the  most 
up-to-date  plants.     The  sash  extend  the  en- 

[23] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


Umh 


tire  width  of  the  skyhght 
and  are  operated  for  venti- 
lation by  chains  and  pul- 
leys. Special  care  has  been 
taken  throughout  t?iis  com- 
posing room  to  provide 
adequate  light  and  ventila- 
tion. The  floor  is  made  up 
of  creosote  wood  blocks  set 
on  end,  and  is  practically 
everlasting,  an  exceedingly 
comfortable  floor  on  which 
to  work. 


The  linotype  machines  are 

located  in  two  rows  along 

^  the  Eighteenth  street  side, 

'  ^'*^  the  balance   of  the   equip- 

■i  met  ion,  1924  m  e  n  t     being     distributed 

throughout  the  composing  room.     The  walls 

and  ceiling  have  been  painted  white  and  the 

wainscot  and  steel  work  gray. 


other  Features 
of  Second  and 
Mezzanine   Stories 


Plenty   of 
Ventilation 


The  stereotyping  room  is  located  adjacent  to 
the  composing  room  in  the  southwest  corner 
and  unusually  well  lighted  and  ventilated. 
Supplementing  the  natural  ventilation  of 
windows  are  two  electric  fans,  while  the 
fumes  from  the  melting  pots  will  be  taken 
off  directly  by  flues.  The  stereotyping  room 
is  also  in  direct  connection  with  the  large 
freight  elevator.  A  small  lift  is  provided  for 
sending  the  plates  directly  from  the  stereo- 
typing room  to  the  press  room.  The  balance 
of  the  second  story  is  taken  up  by  the  wash 
room  and  toilet  room  for  the  composing  room, 
and  the  freight  elevator,  service  passageway 
and  stairs.  The  service  stairs  are  located  in 
the  southeast  corner  and  lead  down  to  the 
mezzanine  floor  which  provides  a  splendid 

[24] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


Buildinio-  Has 
Auditorium   for 
Public  Benefit 


outlook,  at  a  high  level,  of  the  entire  press 
room.  On  this  same  level  is  located  the  lunch 
room  and  recreation  room  for  employes  of 
the  composing  and  press  departments  as 
well  as  a  general  meeting  room  which  will 
accommodate  between  one  hundred  fifty  and 
two  hundred  people.  This  meeting  room  will 
be  used  for  gatherings  of  public  or  semi-pub- 
lic nature  and  is  very  conveniently  located 
to  be  accessible  either  from  the  front  or  rear 
of  the  building.  It  overlooks  the  press  room 
and  operations  can  be  observed  from  this 
point. 


Modern    ]^>alures 
Introduced   in 
Press   Room 


The  entire  south  half  of  the  first  story  of 
the  building  is  occupied  by  the  press  room, 
mailing  room  and  news  boys'  room,  the  press 
room  being  located  on  the  Eighteenth  street 
side  and  visible  from  the  street  through 
five  of  the  large  arched  windows.  It  is  a 
high  room,  running  through  the  first  story 
and  mezzanine  floor,  and  contains  the  Duplex 
press.  This  room  is  lined  with  a  wainscot  of 
brown  salt-glazed  brick  to  a  height  of  six 
feet.  The  balance  is  sand-finished  plaster 
with  a  smooth  plaster  beamed  ceiling.  Run- 
ways for  the  Brownhoist,  a  crane  for  general 
use  in  connection  with  the  press,  have  been 
located  on  the  two  long 
walls.  On  the  south  end  of 
the  press  room  is  located  the 
press  foreman's  office  and 
all  electrical  controlling  de- 
vices. Adjacent  to  the  press 
foreman's  office  is  the 
freight  elevator,  which  is 
used  for  hoisting  rolls  of  pa- 
per to  the  press  room  floor 
as  well  as  for  unloading  the 
paper  from   trucks  into  the 

[25] 


P)-e8s  )-oont 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


Large    Mailing 
Room    Well 
Located 


basement.  This  elevator  is  conveniently  lo- 
cated for  all  operations  connected  with  the 
handling  of  paper  and  the  fact  that  it  is  a 
full  size  elevator  makes  it  useful  for  many 
other  operations.  Adjacent  to  the  press  room 
and  under  the  mezzanine  floor  is  located  the 
mailing  room,  provided  with  the  necessary 
tables,  counters  and  racks,  both  for  the  dis- 
tribution of  local  papers  and  wrapping  or 
bundling  of  those  that  are  mailed  out. 


Load  Trucks 
From    Mailing 
Room    Under    Roof 


A  special  room  has  been  built  for  the  news 
boys,  where  they  obtain  their  papers.  This 
news  boys'  room  is  accessible  from  the  court. 
The  wash  room,  which  is  fitted  up  with 
showers,  is  located  adjacent  to  the  mailing 
room.  From  the  mailing  room  there  is  a 
large  opening  protected  by  steel  rolling  shut- 
ters which  open  out  into  the  garage  and  load- 
ing room.  As  a  large  portion  of  each  issue  of 
The  Argus  is  distributed  by  trucks,  these 
trucks  drive  directly  into  the  garage  and 
loading  space  and  receive  their  consignments 
while  under  a  roof.  The  garage  is  large 
enough  to  accommodate  the  trucks  which  de- 
liver The  Argus,  as  well  as  the  several  otlier 
company  vehicles. 


Paper    Storage, 
Vault   for  Files 
and   Heating  Plant 
in   Basement 


Most  of  the  basement  is  used  for  paper  stor- 
age. The  paper  is  loaded  directly  from  the 
trucks  onto  the  elevator  and  dropped  to  the 
basement  where  it  is  placed  on  hand  trucks 
and  taken  to  racks  which  are  set  three  or 
four  inches  above  the  floor.  In  addition  to 
the  basement  storage  space,  there  is  a  large 
vault  located  conveniently  at  the  foot  of  the 
business  office  stairs.  It  is  equipped  with 
up-to-date  steel  shelving  and  will  contain  the 
bound  files  of  The  Argus,  valuable  because 
of  their  age,  which  goes  back  as  far  as  75 

[2G1 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


if 


S3 

o 


iii 

pi  H  -: 
O  O  -" 


^8 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


years.  The  boiler  room  is  located  at  the 
.^oiith  end  of  the  building  and  contains  two 
Kewanee  smokeless  firebox  boilers. 


Wired  for  All 
Possible  Electric 
Facilities 


Just  as  the  day  lighting  has  been  arranged 
on  a  scale  as  lavish  as  possible,  so  the  elec- 
tric lighting,  too,  has  been  made  generous. 
The  inspection  trips  made  by  owners  and 
architects  have  demonstrated  that  a  newspa- 
per plant  rarely  has  too  much  light  and  us 
ually  not  enough.  Outlets,  therefore,  have 
been  distributed  at  intervals  where  there 
might  be  any  chance  of  their  being  used, 
providing  local  desk  illumJnation  as  well  as 
general  illumination.  The  electric  fixtures 
of  the  business  office  and  private  offices  are 
works  of  art,  consisting  of  the  very  finest 
bronze  and  high  grade  glass  in  charming  de- 
signs. 


Compressed 
Air  to  Clean 
Big  Press 


The  building  has  been  equipped  with  an  ade- 
quate number  of  wash  rooms  and  toilet 
rooms  and  all  plumbing  is  of  the  very  high- 
est grade.  Ice  water  has  been  piped  to  the 
fountains  in  the  various  parts  of  the  build- 
ing. Compressed  air  has  been  supplied  for 
cleaning  the  various  parts  of  the  press. 


The  Dunham  vacuum  system  of  steam  heat- 
ing has  been  installed  and  is  to  be  supple- 
mented by  ventilation  from  several  univents 
which  provide  fresh  warmed  air. 


Well  Screened 
and  Ventilated 


All  openings  throughout  the  building  have 
been  screened  with  copper  screens  in  metal 
frames. 


The  roof  of  the  building  is  of  gypsum  ti4e 
covered  with  Trinidad  Lake  asphalt. 

[28] 


Most   Intangible 
of  Raw  Materials 


How  The  News  Becomes 
a  Newspaper 


IN  THIS  manufactory  the  most  intangi- 
ble of  raw  materials — the  spoken  word, 
a  thought,  or  the  observation  of  an  occur- 
rence — is  made  into  something  concrete  and 
of  great  importance  to  modern  man,  the 
daily  newspaper.  Entering  the  plant  through 
one  of  two  principal  channels,  this  raw  ma- 
terial follows  a  course  scientifically  worked 
out.  It  is  received  in  the  front  end  of  the 
new  Argus  building  and  moves  rearward, 
taking  on  a  more  substantial  and  orderly 
form  at  every  handling,  and  emerges  at  the 
rear  of  the  plant  set  down  in  black  and  white 
and  ready  to  be  swiftly  distributed  to  its 
readers. 


For  instance,  observe  the  route  followed  by 
a  piece  of  advertising  matter.  It  is  tele- 
phoned or  mailed  in,  or  brought  in  by  one  of 
the  advertising  solicitors  to  the  business  of- 
fice, which  occupies  the  front  section  of  the 
ground  floor. 


Ads   Handled  in 
Business    Office 


The  main  entrance  opens  directly  into  the 
spacious  and  handsomely  decorated  business 
office  with  its  Caenstone-finished  walls  and 
an  ornamental  white  plaster  ceiling.  Inside 
a  curving  counter  are  the  desks  of  those  em- 
ployes who  handle  display  and  want  ads, 
those  who  supervise  the  distribution  of  The 
Argus  to  subscribers  and  news  agencies,  and 
those  who  attend  to  the  purchasing  of  ma- 
terials, collection  of  accounts  and  other  fi- 
nancial matters.  Offices  are  provided  here 
for  the  treasurer,  business  manager,  adver- 
tising manager  and  circulation  manager. 
[29] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


Carefully   Looked 
Over    Before    Going 
Lpstairs 


The  advertisement  received  here  is  convert- 
ed into  copy,  being  marked  with  directions 
for  the  printers,  indicating  its  size,  the  kind 
of  type  to  be  used  and  what  illustrations  it 
is  to  contain.  Then  it  is  sent,  in  pneumatic 
tubes,  to  the  composing  room  at  the  rear  of 
the  second  floor.  In  the  composing  room  it 
is  converted  into  type,  either  set  by  hand  or 
on  Linotype  machines. 


News  and  Other 
Copy  Meet  in 
Composing   Room 


As  the  advertising  and  news  matter  meet  in 
the  composing  room,  to  traverse  the  rest 
of  the  route  together,  the  subsequent  process 
is  common  to  the  entire  body  of  matter  of 
which  the  newspaper  is  composed.  There- 
fore, consider  the  news-gathering  section  of 
the  plant. 


Central    Control 
for  Telephone 
Calls 


From  the  central  switch  board  through 
which  all  telephone  calls  into  and  out  of  the 
building,  as  well  as  between  departments, 
are  handled,  located  in  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  the  first  floor,  just  west  of  the  Fourth 
avenue  side  entrance,  lines  extend  to  tele- 
phones on  each  of  the  desks  in  the  news 
room,  which  occupies  the  entire  front  of  the 
second  floor.  These  are  kept  busy  during 
working  hours,  carrying  into  The  Argus  of- 
fice news  of  all  sorts  from  the  city  and  near- 
by territory.  In  this  large,  well-lighted 
room,  typewriters  chatter  incessantly,  as  the 
reporters  set  down  the  events  of  the  day, 
and  the  editors  alter  or  **  head  up  "  their 
copy. 


Getting   the   News 
in   Shape 


All  of  the  news-gathering  resources  of  The 
Argus  have  their  terminals  here.  At  a  desk 
beside  the  room  where  the  Associated  Press 
telegraph  news  from  the  wide  world  comes 
in  over  a  special  leased  wire,  is  the  news 

'■■■  [  30  ] 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  ARGUS 


ai 


Si 
si 


v3  a.  o 

uj  Q 

^  I-  -5 

S2? 


1-  .. 


S^ 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


News  Editor 
Directs  Force 
of  Reporters 


editor.  Surrounding  him  is  the  copy  desk, 
or  rather  a  group  of  four  desks  at  which  the 
telegraph  editor,  sports  editor,  state  news 
editor  and  city  editor  are  placed.  This  group 
heads  all  of  the  departments  of  news-gath- 
ering. Besides  the  state,  national  and  world 
news  which  comes  in  press  association  wires 
and  special  dispatches,  and  the  Rock  Island 
city  and  tri-city  news,  this  group  supervises 
the  covering  and  handling  of  feature  stories, 
church  news,  sporting  news,  music,  dra- 
matic and  motion  picture  news,  and  miscel- 
laneous matter.  The  news  editor  supervises 
all  of  it  and  assigns  reporters  to  their  work, 
while  his  four  associates  on  the  copy  desk 
edit  and  head  up  the  copy.  Theirs  is  the  re- 
sponsibility for  the  correctness  of  facts, 
phrasing,  spelling  and  punctuation  of  all  of 
The  Argus  news  as  it  appears  in  the  printed 
form.  Nearby  is  the  row  of  desks  where  the 
city  news  reporters  work.  In  the  north  end 
of  the  room  is  located  the  society  editor  and 
her  assistant.  The  managing  editor,  who 
writes  editorials  and  prepares  copy  for  the 
editorial  page,  has  an  office  just  off  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  news  room. 


Electric  Conveyer 
for  Copy 


From  the  copy  desk,  an  overhead  electric 
conveyer  extends  to  the  composing  room, 
which  occupies  the  rear  of  the  second  floor. 
Copy  is  sent  to  the  printers  on  this  conveyer. 


From  "Hot 
News  "  Into 
"  Cold  Type  '* 


When  the  news  copy  arrives  in  the  compos- 
ing room  it  is  placed  on  a  table  at  the  ter- 
minal of  the  electric  conveyers,  and  later 
sorted  into  classifications  according  to  the- 
type  of  news  it  deals  with.  It  is  then  hung 
on  several  hooks,  from  which  the  printers 
take  it  to  transfer  it  into  type.  In  the  mean- 
time,    the     advertising     copy     is     arriving 

[32] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 

through  the  pneumatic  tubes.  It  is  sorted 
and  classified  also,  some  going  to  the  print- 
ers who  set  into  type  by  hand,  and  some  go- 
ing to  the  type-setting  machines. 


Most  of 
Type-setting: 
Accomplished    by 
iVIachinerv 


The  eight  type-setting  machines,  all  Lino- 
types, probably  the  most  intricate,  certainly 
the  nearest  ''  human "  mechanical  devices 
used  in  the  process  of  publishing,  are  ranged 
in  two  rows  along  the  east  wall.  On  these 
operators  set  up  all  of  tjie  news  material  and 
most  of  the  advertising  copy,  into  lines  of 
type.  To  do  this  the  operator  presses  keys 
arranged  on  a  keyboard  similar  to  that  of 
a  typewriter,  and  operates  several  small  lev- 
ers, the  Linotype  doing  the  rest.  Thus  a 
huge  saving  of  time  is  effected,  over  the 
amount  required  to  set  all  type  by  hand.  In 
another  part  of  the  composing  room  is  the 
hand-setting  department,  with  its  many 
cases  of  type  and  its  several  printers,  who 
set  up  display  advertising  and  a  few  varie- 
ties of  the  news  headlines  requiring  large 
type. 


Molded  in 
Pasteboard,    Then 
in   Metal 


Here  the  type,  and  pictures  or  advertising 
copy  in  the  form  of  *'  cuts  "  or  *'  casts,"  are 
fitted  into  metal  ''  forms,"  oblong  frames 
just  the  size  of  newspaper  pages.  In  fact, 
they  are  the  original  negatives  of  pages  of 
the  newspaper.  These  forms  are  rolled  into 
a  back  room  on  ''  turtles,"  which  are  wheel 
tables  of  steel,  for  the  stereotyping  process. 
In  this  room  the  form  is  covered  with  a  spe- 
cially prepared  pasteboai'd  sheet  and  run 
through  a  roller  which  presses  the  paste- 
board down  so  heavily  that  an  impression  of 
the  type  and  other  matter  in  the  form  is  left 
upon  it.  After  a  baking  process  to  harden 
this  mold,  which  is  called  a  **  matrix,"  it  is 
[33] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


And,  Finally 
the  Finished 
Product 


placed  in  a  curved  position  in  another  mold, 
and  metal  then  poured  around  it  hardens  into 
a  semi-cylindrical  plate.  This  plate  is  cleaned 
and  trimmed  and  carried  down  to  the  first 
floor  on  a  small  lift  provided  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

Directly  into  the  press  room  comes  the  plate, 
to  be  locked  in  place  on  its  roller  on  The 
Argus'  new  $60,000  Duplex  press.  All  of 
the  pages  are  thus  put  in  place,  the  print 
paper  webs  adjusted,  and  the  cogs  of  the  big 
electrically  driven  machine  start  grinding 
out  the  edition. 


Getting  the  News 
to  You  With  All 
Possible  Speed 


Near  the  press,  in  the  mailing  room,  a  score 
of  men  and  boys  then  battle  against  time  to 
wrap  and  address  the  papers  and  get  them 
to  depots  or  the  postoffice  in  time  to  make 
early  trains  for  their  destinations.  They 
also  count  papers  for  the  carrier  boys,  and 
these  papers  are  taken  by  truck  to  the  start- 
ing points  of  the  various  routes  out  in  the 
residence  districts.  Soon  afterward,  at  his 
home  or  place  of  business,  each  subscriber 
receives  the  day's  news  of  the  world,  and  the 
people  of  The  Argus  have  completed  another 
day's  work. 


[34] 


speed  of  Production  Increased  By 

Augmenting  and  Improving 

Mechanical  Equipment 

-^ri^DDITIONS  to  the  mechanical  equip- 
^^J  ment  of  The  Argus,  notably  a  $60,000 
press,  and  improvements  made  in  the  sys- 
tem generally,  have  all  tended  to  speed  up 
production. 

The  press,  which  may  be  seen  from  the  side- 
walk on  the  Eighteenth  street  side  of  the 
60,oTo  pipers"""^  building  through  several  of  the  large  arched 

an  Hour  windows,  is  equal  to  that  in  any  office  in  any 

city  of  similar  size  in  the  United  States.  It 
is  a  Duplex  unit  type  low  construction  sex- 
tuple press.  Having  a  capacity  of  48  pages, 
it  will  run  up  to  a  speed  of  60,000  papers  an 
hour,  printed,  folded  and  counted.  It  is  ar- 
ranged in  units  so  that  it  may  be  added  to 
at  any  time  to  take  care  of  future  needs. 

As  installed,  this  machine  consists  of  three 

16-page  printing  sections  arranged  in  tan- 
Low  Construction  ,  -xi       i      i  i       ^  i  i  i        j     i     x 
Type All  Parts           oem.    With    double    folders    placed    betw^een 

Accessible  From  units.     Being  of  the  low  construction  type, 

every  part  is  accessible  from  the  floor,  this 
innovation  in  press  construction  proving 
vastly  superior  to  the  old  '*  decker  "  type  of 
machine,  which  towered  in  the  air  and  could 
be  added  to  only  by  placing  additional  decks 
one  above  the  other.  The  press  is  so  ar- 
ranged that  it  may  print  two  24-page  papers 
and  deliver  them  into  separate  folders,  each 
side  of  the  press  being  devoted  to  the  print- 
ing of  a  distinctive  paper  if  desired.  The 
rolls  of  paper  are  placed  overhead. 
[35] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


Can  Never  Be 
Entirely  "  Out  of 
Commission  " 


Any  one  or  two  of  the  three  printing  sec- 
tions may  be  silenced  when  not  in  use.  This 
is  a  most  desirable  feature  in  case  of  break- 
down, as  it  would  be  practically  impossible 
for  the  entire  press  to  be  out  of  commission 
at  any  one  time.  Because  of  the  independent 
drive  of  each  folder,  insurance  as  to  folding 
and  delivering  is  also  obtained.  The  press 
is  driven  by  electric  power  through  a  long 
drive  shaft,  the  power  being  transmitted  to 
the  units  and  folders  by  a  bevel  gear  drive, 
all  of  which  mechanism  is  concealed  under 
the  floor  and  is  entirely  out  of  the  way  of 
the  press  room  force. 


Fitted  to  Last 
Thousandth  of 
an   Inch 


The  entire  equipment,  which  was  built  by 
the  Duplex  Printing  Press  company  of 
Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  is  fitted  for  the  most 
strenuous  service,  all  materials  entering 
into  its  construction  being  the  best  obtain- 
able and  in  accordance  with  the  most 
approved  methods  of  engineering.  The 
workmanship  entering  into  the  manufacture 
of  this  equipment  is  superior  also,  as  only 
the  most  proficient  mechanics  are  capable 
of  doing  the  fine  and  accurate  work  required 
by  the  Duplex  Printing  Press  company  in 
the  construction  of  its  machines.  Every 
working  part  is  ground  down  to  the  last 
thousandth  of  an  inch  and  many  of  the  im- 
portant parts  that  require  this  accuracy  are 
brought  down  to  even  a  quarter  of  a  thou- 
sandth of  an  inch. 


New    Stereo 
Equipment 


The  additional  speed  provided  by  this  new 
press  is  only  one  such  feature  of  many  to  be 
found  in  the  new  plant.  New  equipment  in 
the  stereotyping  room,  where  metal  plates, 
in  which  form  the  type  reaches  the  press, 
are  made  from  pages  of  type  and  cuts  made 

[36] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


^  o 


^  o 


^2 


p 


J  y  J 


0 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGU.S 


up  in  the  composing  room,  makes  that  de- 
partment capable  of  better  and  faster 
service. 


Air  Tubes  Connect 
All  Departments 


Conduits  for 
Phones  and 
Electricity 


A  pneumatic  system  with  tubes  2V^  inches 
in  diameter,  similar  to  the  type  seen  in  up- 
to-date  department  stores  for  sending  cash, 
has  been  installed  to  connect  various  depart- 
ments. This  tube  system  will  supplement 
the  phone  system  and  is  especially  valuable 
in  a  newspaper  plant.  It  will  permit  the 
transmission  of  written  messages  from  one 
station  to  another.  A  message  which  orig- 
inates in  the  editor's  office,  for  example, 
which  is  to  reach  the  composing  room,  is 
placed  in  one  of  these  containers  and  quickly 
drawn  to  the  operator's  room  on  first  floor 
from  which  it  is  transferred  to  the  proper 
tube  to  go  to  the  proper  department.  Action 
is  very  rapid  and  this  installation  is  consid- 
ered valuable.  Its  principal  function  will  be 
to  connect  the  advertising  department  and 
the  composing  room.  The  stations  that  are 
connected  by  the  tube  system  are  the  follow- 
ing: Editor's  office,  treasurer's  office,  busi- 
ness office,  news  room  and  composing  room. 
Supplementing  the  tube  system,  there  is  a 
special  Baldwin  air  line  conveyor  going  di- 
rectly from  editorial  desks  in  the  news  room 
to  the  composing  room,  depositing  its  con- 
tents there  and  returning  to  the  editorial 
desks  in  the  news  room,  automatically. 

T'^lephones  are  very  generously  distributed 
throughout  the  building,  with  special  outlets 
at  all  desks  in  the  news  room  and  points 
wliere  connections  are  desirable.  Conduits 
are  placed  in  all  floors  to  make  it  possible  to 
tap  in  at  numerous  points.  Conduits  are  also 
placed  for  a  system  of  electrical  clocks  in 
principal  rooms,  operated  by  central  control. 
[38] 


Serving  the  Public  in 
the  Ne'w  Building 


Three  Features 
Increase    Usefulness 
to  General  Public 


Auditorium 
Available  for 
Public   Meetings 


'•yi'LTHOUGH  The  Argus  has  always  rec- 
^  l^Qgnized  its  obligation  to  serve  its 
community  in  every  way  possible,  and  to 
provide  all  conveniences  within  its  scope  for 
every  one  residing  in  the  territory  whether 
a  subscriber  or  not,  this  branch  of  endeavor 
is  increased  greatly  by  the  facilities  provid- 
ed by  the  new  Argus  building.  An  auditor- 
ium for  public  gatherings,  bulletin  service 
which  may  well  be  termed  perfect,  and  bet- 
ter provision  for  telephone  information  are 
the  principal  features  to  be  noted. 

The  auditorium  will  be  available  for  public 
or  semi-public  gatherings  upon  application 
to  the  publishers.  It  is  a  well-appointed 
room  on  the  mezzanine  floor,  opening  off  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  gallery  which  ex- 
tends around  two  sides  of  the  business  office. 
The  dimensions  of  the  auditorium  are  24x60 
feet,  and  it  will  accommodate  about  200  per- 
sons. 


More  Room  and 
Better  Bulletin 
Service 


When  crowds  gather  at  The  Argus  office  to 
obtain  the  results  of  big  athletic  contests, 
news  of  elections  or  the  other  information 
of  great  interest  which  draws  thousands  an- 
nually to  observe  the  bulletins,  many  of  the 
inconveniences  which  were  experienced  by 
such  spectators  in  the  old  days  on  Second 
avenue  will  be  absent. 


The  specially  constructed  bulletin  window 
placed  in  the  northeast  facade,  just  over  the 
main  entrance,  is  like  a  large  show  window 
with  its  pane  of  clear  plate  glass,  lighted 

[39] 


THE     STORY     OF     THE     ARGUS 


from  above  by  a  row  of  concealed  incandes- 
cents.     Inside  the  window,  in  a  small  room 
provided  for  that  purpose,  the  baseball  or 
f ^^  p  hr  ^^^^^"  football  playing  board  will  be  erected,  or,  in 

Service  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^  election  returns,  a  picture  pro- 

jector screen  will  be  fixed.  The  regular 
daily  baseball  bulletins,  giving  the  results  by 
innings  of  all  principal  league  games,  will 
be  provided  in  enlarged  form  in  the  big  bul- 
letin window.  Election  returns  will  be  pro- 
jected from  the  mezzanine  gallery  inside  the 
building. 


All  ganglia  of  the  new  building's 
S3^stem  "  center  at  the  point  where  telephone 
information  is  given  out.  Frequently  there 
are  many  calls  for  information  on  events  of 
national  or  extreme  local  importance,  espe- 
cially on  the  nights  of  election  or  of  big  base- 
ball or  football  games.  Subscribers  and  non- 
subscribers  alike  are  freely  given  the  latest 
bulletins  on  such  affairs  by  telephone.  The 
telephone  switchboard  operator,  who  also  is 
required  to  give  out  this  information,  will 
be  more  than  ever  able  to  obtain  the  news 
Nerve  Center."  quickly  and  authentically  through  the  sys- 

Also  Source  of  tem  incorporated  into  the  new  plant.     For 

Phone  Intcrmation         .  mi        j         i      i  •    •  j*     n    • 

she  will  not  only  have  supervision  of  all  in- 
coming and  outgoing  calls,  but  of  inter-de- 
partmental calls  as  well,  and  of  the  pneumatic 
tube  carrier  system  which  penetrates  to  all 
parts  of  the  structure.  The  switchboard 
mclosure,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  first 
floor,  adjacent  to  the  business  office  and 
the  main  doorway,  will  also  be  the  central 
station  for  the  tube  system.  Through  the 
tubes  and  inter-departmental  phones  a  great 
part  of  the  information  she  will  disseminate 
by  phone  reaches  her  as  soon  as  it  arrives  in 
the  building. 

[40] 


/  Am  the  ^Tslewspaper 

BORN  of  the  deep,  daily  need  of  a  nation — I 
am  the  Voice  of  Now — the  incarnate  spirit 
of  the  Times — Monarch  of  things  that  Are.  Ti  My 
'*  cold  type  "  burns  with  the  fire-blood  of  human 
action.  I  am  fed  by  arteries  of  wire  that  girdle 
the  earth.  I  drink  from  the  cup  of  every  living 
joy  and  sorrow.  I  know  no  death,  yet  I  am  born 
again  with  every  morn — with  every  noon — with 
every  twilight.  I  leap  into  fresh  being  with  every 
new  world's  event.  T[  Those  who  created  me  cease 
to  be — the  brains  and  hearts'-blood  that  nourish 
me  go  the  way  of  human  dissolution.  Yet  I  live 
on — and  on.  Tj  I  am  Majestic  in  my  Strength — 
Sublime  in  my  Power — Terrible  in  my  Potentiali- 
ties— yet  as  democratic  as  the  ragged  boy  who 
sells  me  for  a  penny.  Tj  I  am  the  consort  of  Kings 
— the  partner  of  capital — the  brother  of  toil.  The 
inspiration  of  the  hopeless — the  right  arm  of  the 
needy — the  champion  of  the  oppressed — the  con- 
science of  the  criminal.  I  am  the  epitome  of  the 
world's  Comedy  and  Tragedy.  1[  My  responsibil- 
ity is  Infinite.  I  speak,  and  the  world  stops  to 
listen.  I  say  the  word,  and  battle  flames  the 
horizon.  I  counsel  peace,  and  the  war-lords  obey. 
I  am  greater  than  any  individual — more  powerful 
than  any  group.  I  am  the  dynamic  force  of 
Public  Opinion.  Rightlj^  directed,  I  am  a  Creator 
of  Confidence.  A  builder  of  happiness  in  living. 
I  am  the  Backbone  of  Commerce.  The  Trail- 
Blazer  of  Prosperity.  I  am  the  teacher  of  Pa- 
triotism. ^1  I  am  the  hands  of  the  clock  of  Time 
— the  clarion  voice  of  Civilization,  1j  I  am  the 
Newspaper. 


From  address  delivered  by  Joseph  H.  Finn. 
at  the  Associated  Advertising-  Clubs  of  the 
World  Convention.    Chicag-o,  June  22.  1915. 


Aledo  Democrat  PuWisKing  Companj) 
Aledo,  Illinois 


1 

1 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


071.7339ARG2A  C001 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  ARGUS,  1851-1925  ALEDO, 


iillllllillllilll] 


3  0112  025274819 


